Lele and Bandeng

Lele and Bandeng

One of our scent ‘Sereh’ is from a City named Lamongan. Often recognized as Soto City, and sereh is one of the soto ingredients. Other than that the city have many history and folktale regarding to its city features. One of the many famous tourist spot is ‘Tugu Bandeng Lele’ have its own story to tell.

Many still didn’t know about the behind story of it. The story starts when Sunan Giri III or his real name Sedamargo, went to deep villages to spread Islam using boat along Bengawan Solo river. When he arrived, it was already dark, he spotted a small house with godog lamp lighting from it. There was a woman known as mbok Rondo sewing clothe, he then talked with her till late night.

Finally then he leaved, but he forgot his keris that he placed on the front terrace. Sunan Giri then ordered one of his student, Ki Bayapati to bring him his keris back. Mbok Rondo realized that Sunan Giri forgot his keris, so she kept it for him. Ki Bayapati arrived and meant to take it silently, but mbok Rondo was awake and thought that he was a thief, so she screamed, and her neighbors ran after Ki Bayapati. In panic, Ki Bayapati jumped into a pond to hide himself.

Unexpectedly the pond is full with catfish(lele) that swam to the surface intended to help him hides. And so Ki Bayapati was safe from the chase. Since then he swore that he and his descent will not eat lele, and if they eat lele, they will get skin disease like a catfish skin. And for Bandeng, is Lamongan’s most potential commodities full of hope for the future.